Brands, who took part in a town-hall presentation in 2012 at Grand Valley, returns to West Michigan where he will draw on his past research on Franklin Roosevelt and his current work on Reagan to examine what makes a president great.

“What Makes a President Great”

H.W. Brands

March 7, 2013, 7 p.m.

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum

Downtown Grand Rapids

In his discussion, Brands will explain what allows an American president to reshape the course of American life.

“Roosevelt and Reagan espoused decidedly different policies, but their leadership styles reveal some striking similarities,” said Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. “The lessons of their presidencies hold value for all their successors, and for the citizens who choose those successors.”

The presentation is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is requested; please visit www.hauensteincenter.org.